`The American Way' Means Rights For All

RAY RECCHI Commentary

Those who oppose extending anti-discrimination protection to gay people refer to themselves in many ways, from "pro-family' to "pro-decency."

But they are more "anti" than "pro."They are anti-gay and anti-fairness. And, while "anti-American" may be too strong, "un-American" is not.

Any other designation - save perhaps homophobic - is misleading. After all, they fight for the right to deny law-abiding, tax-paying citizens the same rights they enjoy. They believe it should be legal - even commendable - to discriminate simply because they disapprove of the "gay lifestyle."

What is that if not un-American? Our country was founded on the declaration that all people have a right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."It follows that people who want to deny those rights to others are opposed to the most basic American beliefs.

Status quo not always fair

Of course, they will deny that. They will say they are merely trying to uphold decency and family values. They will claim they are trying to protect the "American way of life."

What they are really trying to protect, however, is the status quo. And why not? The status quo pleases them. But that doesn't make the status quo fair or just. After all, slave owners were merely trying to protect the status quo and their own version of "the American way of life," when they fought anti-slavery laws. Later, segregationists and anti-Semites did the same.

So the specious arguments that have surfaced in opposition to a proposed gay rights ordinance in Broward County are not new. Opponents say the proposal is part of a vast plot to foist a "perverted lifestyle" on the rest of us. They warn of dire consequences. It's the old "lock up your sons and daughters" routine.

But the ordinance would merely make it illegal to discriminate against anyone in employment, real estate transactions and public accommodations based on sexual orientation. An ordinance already exists prohibiting such discrimination on the bases of race, religion, gender, age and other reasons.

What's the big deal?

It means that people can't be fired from their jobs or prevented from buying or renting a home simply because they are gay. No big deal. It is not part of a plot or a precursor to the "crumbling of democracy."

To the contrary, such ordinances make us more decent and democratic by extending basic rights to citizens denied those rights. Other places that have passed such laws - Palm Beach County, for example - have suffered no ill effects.

Contrary to the scare tactics employed by opponents, such ordinances do not give gay people the right to molest children or force their lifestyle on anyone else. In fact, children unquestionably are in greater danger of being molested or seduced by heterosexuals. Rape also is almost exclusively a heterosexual activity.

So what we are left with is some citizens who want to deprive others of certain rights based merely on the fact they have a "yucky" lifestyle.